9 Diet Mistakes That May Be Slowing Your Weight Loss Efforts

Trying to lose weight, or maintain a healthy weight, can be a guessing game. Oftentimes we find ourselves plateauing or gaining back weight for what seems like no reason, which can be really frustrating. In cases like this, it’s best to assess what you’re putting into your body to judge if your diet is slowing your progress.

The key to successfully living a healthy lifestyle is to never settle. Always push yourself to learn more about your body and the foods you eat, and evaluate what your goals are and how your intake can support those goals. Different foods metabolize at different rates. Some may speed metabolism up, while others can slow it down. Understanding how foods fuel your body and which ones make it feel sluggish can be the key to getting over a plateau. Having healthy alternative foods on hand can also help you achieve your weight loss goals…

1. White Bread

Not all carbs are created equal. Carbs don’t need to be eliminated like some diets would have you believe (i.e., the Atkins diet). To meet our body’s nutritional needs, a diet should consist of 45- to 65-percent carbohydrates, according to the Mayo Clinic. That being said, refined carbs are the ones you should avoid. White breads (and generally all refined wheat grains) may be the base to your healthy lunch, but the Mayo Clinic also notes that those refined carbs turn to sugar and slow your body’s metabolism right down.

Alternative: Sprouted Grains
What does sprouted mean exactly? Sprouted grains are essentially baby grains. When grains sprout they have increased nutrients to help the grain grow—including proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants. Sprouted grains are high in fiber and won’t block your metabolism. Huzzah!

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